Young d'Artagnan left his small village in Gascony with a dream of becoming a musketeer. His father gave him an old horse and a letter of introduction to Monsieur de Tréville. Monsieur de Tréville was the captain of the King's Musketeers in Paris. D'Artagnan carried his father's sword, which was worn but still sharp. On the road to Paris, he stopped at an inn to rest for the night. There, a nobleman laughed at his old horse and called him a country fool. D'Artagnan was furious and challenged the nobleman to a duel. But the nobleman's servants attacked him from behind and knocked him unconscious. When he woke up, he discovered that his letter of introduction had been stolen. Despite this setback, d'Artagnan continued his journey to Paris. The city was magnificent, with grand buildings and busy streets everywhere. He found Monsieur de Tréville's headquarters and asked to see the captain. While waiting, he spotted the nobleman who had stolen his letter through a window. D'Artagnan rushed out to chase him but accidentally bumped into a musketeer named Athos. Athos was wounded and the collision caused him great pain. The angry musketeer demanded satisfaction and challenged d'Artagnan to a duel at noon. As d'Artagnan hurried away, he knocked the handkerchief from another musketeer named Porthos. Porthos considered this an insult and also demanded a duel at one o'clock. Finally, d'Artagnan accidentally stepped on the cloak of a third musketeer named Aramis. Now he had three duels scheduled on his very first day in Paris. At noon, d'Artagnan met Athos at the agreed location behind the Luxembourg Palace. Porthos and Aramis arrived as Athos's seconds, ready to witness the duel. Just as they drew their swords, the Cardinal's guards appeared. The Cardinal had forbidden dueling, and the guards came to arrest them all. 'There are five of them and only four of us,' said Athos calmly. 'But we are musketeers,' replied d'Artagnan, drawing his sword alongside them. Together, the four men fought the Cardinal's guards and won the battle. This shared adventure created an immediate bond between the four men. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis welcomed d'Artagnan as their friend and brother. Their motto became 'All for one, and one for all.' The King heard about their victory and summoned them to the palace. He was pleased that his musketeers had defeated the Cardinal's guards. The King gave d'Artagnan a bag of gold as a reward for his bravery. Cardinal Richelieu, however, became their dangerous enemy from that day forward. Weeks later, d'Artagnan fell in love with a young woman named Constance Bonacieux. Constance was the Queen's seamstress and knew many secrets of the court. She told d'Artagnan that the Queen was in terrible danger. The Queen had given twelve diamond studs to the Duke of Buckingham as a token of love. Cardinal Richelieu discovered this and planned to expose the Queen's secret. He convinced the King to hold a ball where the Queen must wear the diamonds. If she appeared without them, the King would know about her relationship with the Duke. D'Artagnan and his three friends decided to help the Queen. They would travel to England to retrieve the diamonds from the Duke. Cardinal Richelieu learned of their plan and sent his agents to stop them. The mysterious Milady de Winter was the Cardinal's most dangerous spy. She had already stolen two of the diamonds from the Duke. On the road to the coast, the four friends were attacked multiple times. Porthos was wounded and had to stay behind at an inn to recover. Aramis was tricked by one of the Cardinal's agents and also could not continue. Athos was captured at another inn, leaving d'Artagnan alone. But d'Artagnan was determined to complete the mission by himself. He crossed the English Channel and found the Duke of Buckingham in London. The Duke was heartbroken to learn that two diamonds were missing. He quickly had his jeweler make two perfect copies overnight. D'Artagnan raced back to Paris with all twelve studs in time. The Queen wore the diamonds at the ball and her honor was saved. The King was suspicious when the Cardinal gave him two loose diamonds. But the Queen showed all twelve studs on her shoulder, confusing the Cardinal. D'Artagnan had become a true hero, though his name was never mentioned. He received a diamond ring from the grateful Queen as a secret reward. Meanwhile, his friends had all managed to escape their various troubles. They reunited in Paris, sharing their adventures and laughing together. But Milady de Winter had not forgotten d'Artagnan. She began to plot her revenge against the young Gascon. The four musketeers would face many more adventures together. They fought against the Cardinal's schemes and protected the royal family. Their friendship grew stronger with each challenge they overcame. D'Artagnan eventually earned his place as a true musketeer. The King himself pinned the musketeer's uniform on him during a ceremony. And so, the young man from Gascony achieved his dream, surrounded by his loyal friends.
English Story (B1)The Three Musketeers
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
Young d'Artagnan travels to Paris to become a musketeer and befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together they embark on a dangerous mission to save the Queen's honor by recovering stolen diamond studs from England, all while fighting against the schemes of the powerful Cardinal Richelieu.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did d'Artagnan have three duels scheduled on his first day in Paris?
2
What happened when the Cardinal's guards appeared during the duel?
3
Why did the four friends travel to England?
4
